Marcus Rashford at the double once more for Manchester United

28 February 2016 04:23

Teenage sensation Marcus Rashford maintained his stunning start to his Manchester United career with two goals on his Barclays Premier League debut to deal a major blow to Arsenal's dwindling title hopes.

Just three days after scoring twice against FC Midtjylland in the Europa League, the 18-year-old grabbed another double in the 3-2 win over the Gunners as well as setting up his side's third for Ander Herrera.

For United fans who have grown steadily used to shocking first-half performances, Rashford's remarkable performance will give justifiable cause for the kind of outrageous optimism that this most trying of campaigns has so sadly lacked.

The product of south Manchester's Fletcher Moss Rangers slammed home United's opener in the 29th minute and added a powerful header three minutes later before Danny Welbeck, yet another player from the Fletcher Moss production line, replied for Arsenal.

Rashford's day was not done - he held the ball up superbly for Herrera to sweep home a deflected third for United - before Mesut Ozil's effort gave the lightweight Gunners hope of a point their performance would have scarcely merited.

The relentless excitement - Ramsey and Herrera sparked a mass shoving match almost reminiscent of the storied pizza-gate era - was too much for Louis Van Gaal, who got so animated during a spat with fourth official Mike Dean that he toppled to the ground on the touchline as he tried to recreate an unpunished foul.

But the rich entertainment was no solace for Arsenal, who looked anything but title contenders, despite a bright enough start in which Welbeck exploited attractive amounts of space down his former club's flanks, and began the move which ought to have given the Gunners the lead on eight minutes.

Welbeck played in Ozil who neat lofted pass sent Nacho Monreal through into the right side of the box, but he bustled over his shot which was blocked at point-blank range by the advancing David De Gea.

Memphis Depay zipped a low shot straight at Petr Cech in United's first chance five minutes later, then Monreal - impressive but for his finishing - sent in a cross from which Alexis Sanchez should have done better.

Rashford broke the deadlock with virtually his first touch in the 29th minute, firing home a slightly deflected shot from the centre of the box after Guillermo Varela's cross from the right was not dealt with by Gabriel.

So used to grim first-half deadlocks, Old Trafford hardly seemed to know how to celebrate such a rare ray of early optimism - and it got even brighter three minutes later.

This time Rashford summoned the sort of powerful header of which top strikers the world over would have been proud, slamming the ball past the helpless Cech from Jesse Lingard's right-wing cross.

United's two-goal advantage did not last long as the other product of Fletcher Moss narrowed the deficit when he out-jumped the static Morgan Schneiderlin to head home an Ozil free-kick.

The goal gave Arsene Wenger's men hope but they were guilty of constantly squandering possession in a low-key start to the second period, Van Gaal's men always looking more likely to extend their advantage.

Their third came in the 65th minute and Rashford was once again prominent, teasing Gabriel on the right before crossing for Herrera to sweep home, albeit with a sizeable deflection off Laurent Koscielny's chest.

Arsenal produced a determined response, pulling back to within one four minutes later after De Gea could only flap Welbeck's effort into the path of Ozil, who bundled the ball home.

A subsequent mass pushing match following a clash between Ramsey and Herrera, and the unrelated incident which saw Van Gaal berate Dean before falling to the turf to the loud cheers of fans from both sides.

Rashford's amazing Premier League debut came to an end 10 minutes from time when was replaced by Adnan Januzaj, a player who also scored two goals on his full United debut at Sunderland three years ago.

Januzaj's star may have subsequently dwindled, but for now at least, there is no brighter cause for optimism at Old Trafford than Rashford, seemingly hell-bent on single-handedly rescuing his side's season.

Marcus Rashford. The 18-year-old continues to make this professional football lark look easy with another brace, this time on his Barclays Premier League debut. After almost winning a first-half penalty, he scored twice in four minutes and then showed great composure to tee up Ander Herrera for the third.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

While there were five goals on the pitch, United boss Louis van Gaal may have stolen the show with his sideline antics. The Dutchman is not famed for his touchline histrionics but he was up and out of his seat to mimic a dive in front of the fourth official in the second half. The Old Trafford crowd absolutely lapped it up.

MOAN OF THE MATCH

Theo Walcott was completely anonymous for the 63 minutes he was on the pitch and was upstaged by a teenager who had not played in the league before.

VIEW FROM THE DUGOUT

Van Gaal may have been left with little choice but to start with Rashford in attack due to his injuries but, after scoring three times at home, the excitement was back for United fans. Visiting boss Arsene Wenger was right to start with Danny Welbeck against his old club but he will have been frustrated that makeshift centre-back Michael Carrick was not tested more often by the likes of Walcott.